Valve with unobstructed flow path having increased flow coefficient

Abstract

A valve comprising a valve body including a first end and a second end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, a central portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a first flow passageway and a second flow passageway, respectively, and wherein the central portion defines an interior chamber, wherein the first end of the valve body includes a bore, a valve seat disposed in the bore including a concave seating surface, and a disc rotatable within the interior chamber between an open position and a closed position, wherein the disc includes a seal having a shape corresponding to the concave seating surface and wherein the shape of the seal and the concave seating surface define an elliptical offset from a centerline of the valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A valve comprising:
 a valve body including: 
 a first end and a second end spaced apart along a longitudinal axis; 
 a central portion disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a first flow passageway and a second flow passageway, respectively, and wherein the central portion defines an interior chamber, wherein the first end of the valve body includes a bore; 
 a valve seat disposed in the bore including a concave seating surface, the concave seating surface including a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion, wherein an angle of the first inclined portion is different than an angle of the second inclined portion; 
 a disc rotatable within the interior chamber between an open position and a closed position; and 
 a seal removably coupled to the disc, wherein an external surface of the seal includes a set of steps, disposed along an inclined portion of the disc, incrementally changing an external diameter of the seal, wherein each step includes a horizontal portion that is parallel with a central axis of the seal and a vertical portion that is orthogonal to the central axis of the seal, 
 wherein the seal and the concave seating surface define an elliptical offset from a centerline of the valve, 
 wherein the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion are inclined relative to the centerline, 
 wherein the inclined portion of the seal of the disc includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the seal and the second portion of the seal contact the first inclined portion of the concave seating surface and the second inclined portion of the concave seating surface, respectively, when the disc rotates to the closed position, 
 wherein the first portion of the seal is non-parallel to the second portion of the seal, and 
 wherein the first portion of the seal includes a shorter incline than the second portion of the seal. 
 
     
     
       2. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first inclined portion of the concave seating surface is non-parallel to the second inclined portion of the concave seating surface. 
     
     
       3. The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the first inclined portion of the concave seating surface includes a longer incline than the second inclined portion of the concave seating surface. 
     
     
       4. The valve of  claim 3 , wherein the longer incline of the first inclined portion of the concave seating surface results in a reduced angle between the first inclined portion of the concave seating surface and the centerline than that of an angle between the second inclined portion of the concave seating surface and the centerline. 
     
     
       5. The valve of  claim 4 , wherein the seal has an elliptical profile. 
     
     
       6. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve seat is a seat ring operable to be removably installed into the bore. 
     
     
       7. The valve of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a stem rotatably supported by the valve body about a rotation axis, wherein the disc is coupled to the stem in order to rotate within the interior chamber between the closed position, wherein the disc closes one of the first flow passageway or the second flow passageway, and the open position, wherein at least one of the first flow passageway and the second flow passageway is completely unobstructed between the first end and the second end of the valve body when projected along the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       8. The valve of  claim 7 , wherein the seal of the disc engages the concave seating surface when the disc is rotated to the closed position. 
     
     
       9. The valve of  claim 8 , wherein the disc defines a central plane offset from the rotation axis. 
     
     
       10. The valve of  claim 9 , wherein a centerline axis of the disc orthogonal to the central plane is offset from the rotation axis. 
     
     
       11. The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the stem includes a first stem portion supported by the valve body and coupled to a top of the disc, and a second stem portion supported by the valve body and coupled to a bottom of the disc, wherein the first and second stem portions are spaced apart on opposite sides of, and do not project into, the at least one of the first flow passageway and the second flow passageway projected along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       12. The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the disc includes first and second arms extending from the top and the bottom of the disc respectively, each of the first and second arms including a hub coupled to one of the first and second stem portions. 
     
     
       13. The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve seat is a seat ring operable to be removably installed into the bore. 
     
     
       14. The valve of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first stem portion supported by the valve body and coupled to a top of the disc, and a second stem portion supported by the valve body and coupled to a bottom of the disc, 
 wherein the first and second stem portions are spaced apart on opposite sides of, and do not project into, the at least one of the first flow passageway and the second flow passageway projected along the longitudinal axis, 
 wherein the first stem portion and the second stem portion are rotatably supported by the valve body about a rotation axis, and 
 wherein the disc closes one of the first flow passageway or the second flow passageway. 
 
     
     
       15. The valve of  claim 14 , wherein the disc defines a central plane offset from the rotation axis and a centerline axis of the disc orthogonal to the central plane is offset from the rotation axis.